Canada Threatens Tesla Tariffs as Anti-Musk Protests Sweep Nation

Paul Riverbank, 2/17/2025Canada threatens Tesla tariffs amid protests over Musk's growing political influence and VOA controversy.

Musk recently aligned himself with Trump allies in calling for the shutdown of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe — taxpayer-funded media organizations with a combined annual budget approaching $1 billion. "Yes, shut them down," Musk declared on his social platform X, backing former Trump official Richard Grenell's position.

The debate over these institutions has revealed deep political divisions. While Trump nominee Kari Lake advocates keeping them operational but "pro-American," critics argue these outlets are already serving vital diplomatic functions. VOA reaches an impressive 354 million weekly viewers across 49 languages — a reach that makes American domestic networks "look like small fry," according to The Guardian.

The controversy has spilled across borders, with former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland issuing a stark warning to both Trump and Musk. "We are your biggest customer, so watch out," Freeland declared on MSNBC, proposing targeted retaliation including "a 100% tariff on Teslas."

Meanwhile, domestic opposition to Musk's government influence has crystallized into organized protest movements. Ezra Levin, co-founder of activist organization Indivisible, pulled no punches in his assessment: "He's a particularly heinous villain. He is less popular even than Trump, and it makes sense, because he's an unelected billionaire, in fact, the richest man in the world."

The resistance has taken shape through both established organizations and grassroots movements. The "50501" movement — named for its goal of 50 state protests on a single day — emerged from a simple Reddit post and has since expanded to coordinate demonstrations across 80 cities. Their focus has increasingly centered on what they term "tech bros" and perceived abuses of power in the second Trump administration.

The impact of these protests appears to be resonating in Washington. According to reports, Senate offices were receiving up to 1,600 calls per minute, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) noting that most calls to her office expressed concerns about Musk and his agency.

Democratic lawmakers have found themselves caught between constituent pressure and political reality. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) acknowledged the effectiveness of public pressure, stating via Instagram that the volume of calls to Republican colleagues is "sending the message that people are mobilized and angry."

As this political drama unfolds, the future of America's international broadcasting apparatus — and the broader question of Musk's role in government operations — remains uncertain. What is clear is that his involvement has catalyzed a new chapter in American political activism, one that shows no signs of abating.

The intersection of tech billionaire Elon Musk with government operations has sparked a wave of controversy and resistance across North America, as his influence in the Trump administration continues to draw both criticism and support.Musk recently aligned himself with Trump allies in calling for the shutdown of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe — taxpayer-funded media organizations with a combined annual budget approaching $1 billion. "Yes, shut them down," Musk declared on his social platform X, backing former Trump official Richard Grenell's position.The debate over these institutions has revealed deep political divisions. While Trump nominee Kari Lake advocates keeping them operational but "pro-American," critics argue these outlets are already serving vital diplomatic functions. VOA reaches an impressive 354 million weekly viewers across 49 languages — a reach that makes American domestic networks "look like small fry," according to The Guardian.The controversy has spilled across borders, with former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland issuing a stark warning to both Trump and Musk. "We are your biggest customer, so watch out," Freeland declared on MSNBC, proposing targeted retaliation including "a 100% tariff on Teslas."Meanwhile, domestic opposition to Musk's government influence has crystallized into organized protest movements. Ezra Levin, co-founder of activist organization Indivisible, pulled no punches in his assessment: "He's a particularly heinous villain. He is less popular even than Trump, and it makes sense, because he's an unelected billionaire, in fact, the richest man in the world."The resistance has taken shape through both established organizations and grassroots movements. The "50501" movement — named for its goal of 50 state protests on a single day — emerged from a simple Reddit post and has since expanded to coordinate demonstrations across 80 cities. Their focus has increasingly centered on what they term "tech bros" and perceived abuses of power in the second Trump administration.The impact of these protests appears to be resonating in Washington. According to reports, Senate offices were receiving up to 1,600 calls per minute, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) noting that most calls to her office expressed concerns about Musk and his agency.Democratic lawmakers have found themselves caught between constituent pressure and political reality. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) acknowledged the effectiveness of public pressure, stating via Instagram that the volume of calls to Republican colleagues is "sending the message that people are mobilized and angry."As this political drama unfolds, the future of America's international broadcasting apparatus — and the broader question of Musk's role in government operations — remains uncertain. What is clear is that his involvement has catalyzed a new chapter in American political activism, one that shows no signs of abating.